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Grace Hale, prosecuting, said that the girl contacted police in April 2016 and when he was interviewed, Smith admitted he had sex with the girl telling officers: "It just happened."

Smith, 53, of Main Road, Thimbleby, near Horncastle, admitted two charges of sexual activity with a child.

He was jailed for 30 months and given a five-year restraining order banning him from any contact with the girl.

James Gray, defending, said that Smith did not force or coerce the girl to do anything against her will.

He said that in the past Smith had been very badly injured in an accident and has since been under a regime of strong medication.

Deputy Judge Michael Stokes QC, passing sentence, told Smith: "Where this sort of activity occurs, even when it can be said to be consensual, there is undoubtedly an element of exploitation taking advantage of her age and vulnerability to satisfy your own sexual desires.

"You were over 50 and there was a huge disparity of age and maturity which makes exploitation inevitable."